No. Listerine reduces bacteria on the surfaces it contacts, but a tooth infection develops inside the tooth or in the surrounding bone and tissue, spaces a mouthwash can not physically reach.
Swishing with Listerine will not eliminate an active infection, stop an abscess from spreading, or replace professional dental treatment. Used at the right stage though, it supports the healing environment around the infected area.
Why Listerine Cannot Reach a Tooth Infection
Listerine works on surfaces it can physically touch. A tooth infection develops in spaces it can never reach, no matter how long or how often you rinse.
Inside the tooth: Bacteria responsible for a tooth infection live inside the root canal system, a sealed space running through the center of the tooth root. The hard outer layers of enamel and dentin form a physical barrier that no liquid applied to the outside of the tooth can cross.
Inside an abscess: When infection spreads beyond the tooth, it forms a walled-off pocket of pus in the surrounding tissue. Rinsing reaches the gum surface near the abscess but does not influence what is happening inside it. Draining an abscess requires a dentist, not a mouthwash.
Through swollen tissue: As infection advances, swelling in the gum and surrounding tissue creates an additional physical barrier that further limits how far any surface antiseptic can reach.
No impact on the source: Listerine does not address what is actually driving the infection. A tooth infection needs the structural problem fixed, whether that is decayed tissue removed, a canal cleaned, or an abscess drained. Surface bacteria reduction without treating the source changes nothing.
Risk of irritation: Listerine contains alcohol, and rinsing directly over an open abscess or severely inflamed gum tissue can cause a sharp burning sensation and worsen irritation. If the area is visibly swollen or actively draining, warm salt water is a gentler option until you see a dentist.
Does Listerine Help With Toothache or Tooth Pain?
It can provide mild, temporary relief but not in the way most people expect. Listerine contains alcohol and, in some formulations, thymol and eucalyptol, compounds with mild numbing and anti-inflammatory properties.
Swishing briefly around a painful tooth may dull the sensation slightly for a short period. This is surface relief only and does not address the pressure, nerve involvement, or bacterial activity causing the pain.
If a tooth is throbbing, aching deeply, or sensitive to temperature, Listerine will not meaningfully reduce that pain and should not delay a dental visit.
Will Listerine Kill a Tooth Nerve?
No. The tooth nerve sits inside the pulp chamber, protected by layers of enamel and dentin. Listerine can not penetrate these hard structures to reach the nerve regardless of how it is used.
The only way to address an infected or dying tooth nerve is through root canal treatment, which physically removes the pulp tissue from inside the tooth. No mouthwash, home remedy, or over-the-counter product reaches the nerve through intact tooth structure.
Best Mouthwash for a Tooth Abscess
If you want the most effective mouthwash option for bacterial reduction around an infected tooth, chlorhexidine gluconate is the stronger clinical choice over Listerine.
Chlorhexidine has documented antibacterial activity that persists on oral surfaces for several hours after rinsing, a property called substantivity that Listerine’s essential oil formulation does not match. It is available by prescription in most countries and is commonly recommended by dentists after periodontal treatment, extractions, and oral surgery.
As a supportive rinse during or after infection treatment, chlorhexidine has meaningfully stronger clinical backing than any over-the-counter mouthwash. Neither replaces professional treatment, but if you are using a rinse as a supportive measure, chlorhexidine is the better choice.
What Listerine Can Help With
Rinsing with Listerine before a dental appointment reduces the overall bacterial load in the mouth around the affected area. After root canal treatment or abscess drainage, when brushing directly around the site is painful, a gentle antiseptic rinse fills the cleaning gap while the area heals.
As part of a consistent daily routine, long-term regular use reduces plaque and lowers the risk of future gum problems that can contribute to new infections.
What Actually Treats a Tooth Infection
Home care manages symptoms temporarily. Only professional treatment removes the source.
Root canal treatment removes infected pulp tissue from inside the tooth, cleans and seals the root canal system, and restores the tooth with a crown or filling. This eliminates the bacterial source while keeping the tooth intact.
Abscess drainage is performed when pus has collected in a visible pocket in the gum or surrounding tissue. The dentist makes a small incision to release pressure and remove infected material, often alongside root canal treatment or extraction.
Tooth extraction becomes necessary when the tooth is too damaged to be saved. Removing the tooth eliminates the infection source entirely, and implant placement afterwards prevents bone loss in the area.
Antibiotics are prescribed when infection has spread beyond the tooth, with facial swelling, fever, or swollen lymph nodes indicating systemic involvement. They control the spread but do not remove the source inside the tooth. Without follow-up dental treatment, the infection will return.
When to See a Dentist Urgently
Facial swelling that is spreading, fever, difficulty swallowing or breathing, and swelling under the chin or in the neck mean the infection has moved beyond the tooth. These need same-day emergency care, not a routine appointment.
A tooth infection does not resolve on its own. The longer it goes untreated, the further it spreads and the more limited the treatment options become.
FAQs
Can Listerine draw out a tooth infection?
No. Drawing out an infection requires professional drainage. Listerine rinses the surface of the mouth but can not pull bacteria or pus out of infected tissue inside or below the tooth.
How long can you use Listerine while waiting for a dental appointment?
You can use it as part of your oral hygiene routine while waiting, but it should not delay the appointment. A tooth infection does not resolve on its own and worsens without treatment.
Does Listerine help with a gum abscess more than a tooth abscess?
Slightly, since bacteria driving a gum abscess sit closer to the surface. Rinsing may reduce bacterial load around the affected gum, but it still does not drain the abscess or remove the infection source.
Is chlorhexidine better than Listerine for a tooth infection?
As a supportive rinse during or after treatment, yes. Chlorhexidine has stronger and longer-lasting antibacterial activity than Listerine. Neither treats the infection itself.
Can a tooth infection go away without treatment?
No. A tooth infection requires professional treatment to remove the source. Without it, the infection progresses, spreads, and in serious cases becomes life-threatening.